This is the moment a police officer jumped into a driver's van after he was offered a lift to help catch a suspected thief.

Footage shows PC Sperling from Surrey Police running after the alleged thief who was escaping the manhunt on a bike in Guildford.

The Good Samaritan driving a grey van then pulls up alongside the officer and offers him a lift to catch up with the getaway cyclist. 

The duo manage to pull up in front of the bike rider, before the officer jumps out and makes the arrest.

Surrey Police posted on social media: 'Big thanks to the Good Samaritan who gave our officer a lift during a foot chase for a suspected shoplifter on Tuesday!

'Officers were on Woking Road in Guildford when they spotted someone suspected of stealing from a nearby shop.

'The suspect had made off on a bicycle with PC Sperling giving chase on foot when a friendly van driver intervened to offer a lift.

'Working together, the van driver and officer were able to spot where the suspect had gone and get ahead of him, allowing PC Sperling to jump out and make the arrest. Teamwork makes the dream work.'

Police officers have often relied on the kindness of strangers driving past to help them arrest fleeing criminals.

In September, an unsuspecting woman became the driver in a police chase after an officer sought her help to catch a suspect.

Jacob Roberts, 25, was banned from the roads when police noticed a smell of drugs coming from his van in the village of Abercwmboi, South Wales, a court heard.

But when officers tried to pull him over Roberts sped off, crashing into parked cars and a building in his bid to get away.

The police officer said to the woman: 'I need a lift' when chasing Roberts, to which she responded: 'Come on then.'

After catching up with him, the officer then jumped out of the car and pointed his taser before arresting Roberts on the ground.

And in August, bodycam footage showed an officer pursuing a cycling suspect by car through the streets of Twickenham in south-west London.

Realising he needed to carry on the chase on foot, the Metropolitan Police officer exited his car and started running after the man.

But he then passed a member of the public with a bike – who kindly asked: 'Do you guys want to chase him on this?'

The grateful officer says yes and races to apprehend the alleged thief who he eventually reaches on a towpath near to the Twickenham Stoop stadium.

Tackling the man to the ground, the officer shouts: 'You're f****** nicked!'

He then arrests the man on suspicion of stealing a pedal bicycle.

The officer then contacts his team, saying: 'Additional officers coming to join me. I'm going to have to repatriate this bike to my hero member of the public.'